NCEA | Newsfeed Collection

NCEA Newsfeed – Thursday, June 21, 2012

The newsfeed includes articles and stories related to abuse of elders and adults with disabilities.  Articles related to elders appear in the top half of the newsfeed.  Articles related to abuse of adults with disabilities appear towards the bottom.  To subscribe to the NCEA listserv, please send an email with your name, occupation, your organization/agency name, city and state, and a statement about your professional interest or expertise in elder abuse to NCEA@UCI.edu.  Like us on Facebook!

Calendar of upcoming elder abuse and neglect events can be found at the bottom of the newsfeed entries.

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ELDER ABUSE NEWSFEED

1.         NATIONAL, Chicago Tribune, June 20, 2012
Financial elder abuse increases in a down economy
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-201206201300--tms--retiresmctnrs-a20120620-20120620,0,2256410.story
"The amount of money stolen from seniors has risen sharply in recent years," said Consumer Financial Protection Bureau head Richard Corday in a prepared statement. The bureau is seeking public input about the best way to identify legitimate financial advisers and how effective and easy-to-understand financial counseling can be for seniors, among other issues.

2.         NATIONAL, Daily Finance, June 18, 2012
Teaching Doctors to Diagnose a Grandma Money Scam
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/06/18/teaching-doctors-to-diagnose-a-grandma-money-scam/
Doctors and those in the medical field are being trained to be aware of signs of trouble. The nonprofit Investor Protection Trust, for example, has trained 3,000 medical professionals in the U.S. to spot impaired mental capacity in patients. This can be a powerful way to get them help and prevent them from being swindled.

3.         NATIONAL, Financial Advisor Magazine, June 19, 2012
Financial Abuse Rampant Among Elderly
http://www.fa-mag.com/fa-news/11346-financial-abuse-rampant-among-elderly.html
Financial abuse of vulnerable older people is becoming a rampant and growing problem, according to experts in finances and care of senior citizens. The vast majority (84%) says investment fraud and financial exploitation of American senior citizens by swindlers who target the vulnerable is getting worse, according to a new survey by the Investor Protection Trust (IPT).

4.         NATIONAL, WIVB.com, June 21, 2012
Schumer: Elder abuse under reported
http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/politics/schumer-elder-abuse-under-reported
Sen. Charles Schumer said he supports newly proposed federal standards to report abuse and defrauding of the elderly nationwide. The proposal includes training Meals on Wheels and other volunteers and workers in frequent contact with the elderly to spot physical abuse and financial fraud.\

5.         CALIFORNIA (Los Angeles), SCV News, June 20, 2012
Lawsuit Accuses SCV’s Sterling Canyon of Elder Abuse, Wrongful Death
http://scvnews.com/?p=32664
A lawsuit against Sunrise Sterling Canyon Assisted Living of Valencia alleging elder abuse, neglect and wrongful death was filed Wednesday in the Los Angeles County Superior Court by the family of former resident Loretta R. Hooker. The lawsuit relates to the events leading up to her death on August 24, 2011.

6.         CALIFORNIA (Los Gatos), Los Gatos Patch, June 20, 2012
Defrocked Los Gatos Jesuit Priest Denies Molestation
http://losgatos.patch.com/articles/defrocked-los-gatos-jesuit-priest-denies-molestation
A trial continues in the case of a San Francisco man accused of assault and elder abuse of a former priest who the defendant claims sexually molested him and his brother when they were children.

7.         CALIFORNIA (Orange County), OC Register, June 20, 2012
Personally attacking elder abuse
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/elder-359903-one-worked.html
A columnist for the Orange County Register reflects on the cases of elder abuse that he’s witnessed throughout Orange County.

8.         CALIFORNIA (San Diego), Village News, June 21, 2012
Deputy D.A. prosecutes elder abuse cases
http://www.thevillagenews.com/story/64662/
Paul R. Greenwood, deputy district attorney and head of the elder abuse prosecution unit within the San Diego District Attorney’s office has provided an update on the unit he was tasked with starting 16 years ago, in January 1996. Greenwood has been dedicated to prosecuting these types of cases.

9.         CALIFORNIA (San Jose), Kansas City Star, June 20, 2012
Judge cancels Calif. priest assault trial for day
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/20/3667904/church-abuse-victim-on-trial-for.html
A man is accused of beating an elderly former priest at a retirement home. The suspect claims that the former priest molested him and his younger brother in 1975.

10.       CALIFORNIA (San Jose), Times Union, June 20, 2012
Church abuse victim faces trial for beating priest
http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Church-abuse-victim-faces-trial-for-beating-priest-3645422.php
A man is accused of savagely beating an elderly former priest who allegedly molested the man and his brother over 30 years ago.

11.       CALIFORNIA (Siskiyou County), Siskiyou Daily, June 21, 2012
Elder abuse cases on the rise
http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/news/x57807567/Elder-abuse-cases-on-the-rise
According to Tammy Stewart, victim services advocate for the District Attorney's Office, elder abuse cases in Siskiyou County are on the rise.

12.       COLORADO (Denver), Virtual Strategy, June 19, 2012
Identity Theft Expert Advises on Why Elders are Targets for Scams and Financial Abuse
http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2012/06/19/identity-theft-expert-advises-why-elders-are-targets-scams-and-financial-abuse
A Victim Advocate at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s identity theft unit, Hazel Heckers, presents a new webinar hosted by the Society of Certified Senior Advisors on elder abuse, and how the elderly and people with disabilities become vulnerable targets for fraudulent crime.

13.       CONNECTICUT (Westport), Minuteman News Center, June 20, 2012
Awareness raised on World Elder Abuse Day
http://minutemannewscenter.com/articles/2012/06/20/fairfield/news/doc4fe1e15e737ba968878839.txt
The Jewish Home for the Elderly (JHE), held a gathering at which three legislators and the daughter of abuse victims were featured speakers at the Westport Senior Center. Each speaker gave his personal perspective on seniors and their family struggling with elder abuse and state government efforts to address this critical public policy issue. About 45 people attended, including concerned residents, aging services professionals, high school students and police liaison officers.

14.       DELAWARE (Georgetown), Sussex Countian, June 18, 2012
Elder Abuse Awareness Day Event Held in Georgetown
http://www.sussexcountian.com/news/x681118862/Elder-Abuse-Awareness-Day-event-held-in-Georgetown
A change in public attitudes and additional state resources are needed to protect seniors from physical abuse, neglect and fraud, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden said last week.

15.       ILLINOIS (Aurora), Daily Herald, June 21, 2012
3 siblings guilty in 2011 Aurora elder abuse case
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120621/news/706219695/
Two Aurora siblings admitted Thursday to felony neglect and abuse of their mother in 2011, which resulted in the woman having part of her leg amputated. Prosecutors did not reduce the charges against the trio in exchange for the guilty pleas.

16.       INDIANA (Corydon), WHAS11, June 19, 2012
Elderly woman claims she was sexually abused at Corydon nursing home
http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Allegations-of-sexual-abuse-159589355.html
An elderly woman is staying in a New Albany nursing home after family transferred her for her own safety. The elderly woman claims she was sexually assaulted at Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation Center in Corydon.

17.       LOUISIANA (Baton Rouge), The Advocate, June 20, 2012
Elder unit switched to DHH
http://theadvocate.com/home/3139119-125/elder-unit-switched-to-dhh
At issue is the Jindal administration’s push to move the Office of Elderly Affairs’ adult protection services to the state Department of Health and Hospitals, which has an Office of Aging and Adult Services.

18.       MAINE (Pemaquid), The Maine Public Broadcasting Network, June 20, 2012
Elderly Pemaquid Woman Wins $1.3 Million Judgment
http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNewsArchive/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3475/ItemId/22371/Default.aspx
An elderly Pemaquid woman has won what's believed to be the largest judgment of its kind in Maine involving financial exploitation. Eighty-five-year-old Gwen Swank is unlikely to collect her $1.3 million award. The man who duped her out of her life savings is now behind bars. But Swank and her attorney are hoping the outcome marks a new chapter for elder abuse victims who take their cases to court.

19.       MASSACHUSETTS (West Roxbury), West Roxbury Patch, June 18, 2012
Seniors Flash Mob Roche Bros for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
http://westroxbury.patch.com/articles/video-seniors-flash-mob-roche-bros-for-world-elder-abuse-awareness-day#youtube_video-10348309
A group of senior citizens performed a flash mob dance at Roche Bros to draw attention to the physical, emotional or sexual abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, abandonment or self-neglect that many seniors secretly face.

20.       NEW YORK (Long Island), NewsLI.com, June 19, 2012
Exploiting Elderly And Vulnerable Adults Now A Crime
http://www.newsli.com/2012/06/19/exploiting-elderly-and-vulnerable-adults-now-a-crime/
The New York State Senate today responded to the need for increased protection against financial exploitation of elderly and vulnerable adults by passing legislation to make such actions a crime. The legislation (S6712), sponsored by Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma), gives district attorneys and police the tools they need to prosecute instances of financial exploitation of vulnerable elderly or people with physical or mental disabilities.

21.       PENNSYLVANIA  (Franklin County), The Record Herald, June 20, 2012
Elder abuse task force established in Franklin County
http://www.therecordherald.com/news/x1179514220/Elder-abuse-task-force-established-in-Franklin-County
Franklin County Commissioners recently marked June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and announced the formation of a local Older Adult Protective Services Task Force.

22.       WASHINGTON (Issaquah), Issaquah Press, June 19, 2012
Elder Abuse Awareness Day includes safety message
http://www.issaquahpress.com/2012/06/19/elder-abuse-awareness-day-includes-safety-message/
King County Council members declared June 15 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day to reflect concerns about the safety of vulnerable adults. The proclamation encourages citizens to commit to building safer lives and safer community for elderly residents.

23.       INTERNATIONAL (British Columbia, Canada), The Globe and Mail, June 20, 2012
B.C.’s elder caregiver registry to face review
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bcs-elder-caregiver-registry-to-face-review/article4358946/
Just weeks after the Ontario government announced it is adopting British Columbia’s model for a caregiver registry to protect seniors from abuse, B.C.’s Health Minister is promising to review the system in response to troubling reports of gaps in the safety net.

24.       INTERNATIONAL (Peterborough, Canada)
Respect, nothing else, when it comes to dealing with your elders
http://www.mykawartha.com/community/article/1377869--respect-nothing-less-when-it-comes-to-dealing-with-your-elders
Seniors and their family members gathered at Empress Gardens Retirement Residence to celebrate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and listen to various presentation from community agencies hoping to encourage seniors who are abused, and community members who witness abuse, to speak up.

25.       INTERNATIONAL (Spiesen-Elversberg, Germany), United Press International, June 20, 2012
2 nursing home workers accused of torture
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/06/20/2-nursing-home-workers-accused-of-torture/UPI-60231340214933/
Two employees in a German nursing home are under investigation for allegedly torturing, abusing and killing residents, lawyers say. The two unnamed men were eventually reported by a group of 10 co-workers, who alleged they were previously threatened to keep quiet.

26.       INTERNATIONAL (New Delhi, India), June 19, 2012
Shravan Kumar, only a myth? The tragic plight of India’s elderly
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_shravan-kumar-only-a-myth-the-tragic-plight-of-india-s-elderly_1704131
According to a survey report by HelpAge India, released on the eve of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, about 56% of India's sons indulge in elderly abuse as compared to 23% of daughter-in-laws. At the national level, 31% of older persons reported facing abuse.

27.       INTERNATIONAL (Worcestershire County, United Kingdom), Evesham Observer, June 18, 2012
New campaign highlights financial abuse
http://www.eveshamobserver.co.uk/2012/06/20/news-New-campaign-highlights-financial-abuse-42736.html
To mark World Elder Abuse Day, the Worcestershire Safeguarding Adults Board is unveiling the first of three posters designed to put the issue of financial abuse firmly in the public domain. One slogan newly introduced is, “Financial abuse bruises too.”

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Upcoming Elder Abuse Conferences/Training Events (in chronological order):

·    National Survey on Abuse of People with Disabilities:  Add your knowledge and expertise regarding abuse and individuals with any type of disability across the  lifespan.  Take the survey then forward it widely, to help in the dissemination effort. Click here to take the survey.

●    26^th Annual Elder Rights Conference (July 11-13, 2012), Schaumburg, Illinois.  Presented by the Illinois Department on Aging. : http://cspl.uis.edu/ILLAPS/DOA/index.html

●    2012 Florida Conference on Aging (August 20-22, 2012).  Presented by The Florida Council on Aging  (FCOA) and the Florida Association of Aging Services Providers (FASP), in partnership with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA). The theme this year will be Aging: New Game – New Rules http://www.fcoa.org/FCOA%20Sponsor%20Brochure%202012%20FINAL.pdf

·         The Consumer Voice recently announced a brand new "Advocacy in Action" day of training, sharing and advocating, September 10, 2012 in Washington, DC and they will host our day of training in conjunction with the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities (NASUAD) National Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Conference starting September 11th.

●    The 19th Annual New York State Adult Abuse Training Institute will be held October 2-4, 2012, Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Albany , New York . This year’s theme is Broken Trust: How to Recognize and Respond to Financial Exploitation. Oct 2 : Financial Exploitation Summit. More information: http://www.compassionandsupport.org/pdfs/news/10212-AATIConf.pdf

●    2012 NAPSA Conference: Ending Adult Abuse: On the Horizon? (October 16-18).  This event in Phoenix, Arizona will be followed by the 3rd Annual Elder Financial Exploitation Summit on October 19, 2012. Email info@apsnetwork.org for more information.

·         Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, 25th Annual National Summit, Enabling Caring Communities: Promoting Evidence-Based Programs Across the Lifespan, October 24-25, 2012, Georgia Southwestern State University, Americus, GA  For more information go to : http://www.rosalynncarter.org/

·         California District Attorneys Association 2012 National Elder Abuse Symposium (December 4-7, 2012) Guest speakers to include Paul Greenwood, San Diego County Deputy District Attorney, Bob Nichols, Retired Marin County Deputy District Attorney, and many more. More information coming soon

 National Center on Elder Abuse

Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse & Neglect

University of California, Irvine

Program in Geriatrics

101 The City Drive South

Orange, CA 92868

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